Phaseolus Vulgaris is an extract from the white kidney bean that does not allow the interaction between carbohydrates and Alpha-Amylase. Major digestion occurs in our small intestine after which, the left-over sludge is delivered to the large intestine. Here, water absorption takes place and the remainder is converted into urea. This is where the basic theory of a carb blocking supplement comes into play. Carb blocking’s idea branches off from the idea of starch blocking. Starch blocking is used for the diabetic patients in controlling their blood sugar level and this is done by inhibiting the sugar.

Carb-Blockers will help you only in short run. They do not actually address the actual problem. For example, take liposuction, when you are having issues with your metabolism, or when you have a stagnant life style and unhealthy eating habits; liposuction isn’t going to help you with the source of these problems. There will be no improvement in your lifestyle choices and eating habits after going through with the surgery. These Fat and carb blockers cannot be a sole solution of obesity problems. There is another factor which is very important. This important factor is Vitamin absorption into our body.

Most of the minerals and vitamins are fat soluble. These minerals and vitamins come bundled itself with the glucose and starch. When such blockers inhibit fat absorption into our body, our body gets deprived of these vitamins also. As an example Vitamins like A, D, E, F, K and fatty acids like Omega-3 and Omega-6 are fat soluble. Depriving our body from fats/Carbs will result in abnormal absorption of these Vitamins. The same thing happens with the Carbohydrates too. Many of the minerals and vitamins along with the Glucose, Starch and fats that were not digested, pass through our food canal without getting absorbed.

Yes, Carb-Blockers may work and help you in making adjustment in the initial stage of your diet. Strong cravings can be satiated by a cheat meal once in a while and to nullify the effect of such cheat meals, carb-blockers can come in handy but what happens if we think long term? The best way is to take natural Carb Blockers rather than taking supplement pills. You may eat a serving of white kidney beans prior to your meal rather than going for a pill. You may also go for other natural foods that are high in volume but low in caloric density such as fresh fruits and vegetables. This way, you can forget about possible side effects, you can also forget about the credibility of these synthetic carb-blockers while shedding the pounds; which is an aim for most of us.

Every now and then we hear that some new technique has been discovered for weight loss. The term or technique which has been in the spotlight is carb or fat-blockers.

The issue is that there’s an upside and downside of using Fat-blockers for long periods of time.

First, we need to understand what carb-blockers are and how do they work. Fat blocking supplements supplements are no match to natural procedures, which definitely are more intense and time-consuming, so we won’t be wrong to assume that these fat-blockers might have some darker side too. But let’s just first know what these really are and how do they benefit us (If they do really benefit us!)

Many say that carb blockers do not come with a huge sack of side effects as it made of natural ingredients. It is said that these pills allow you to eat carbs without having to face the dire consequences.

Now that, certainly sounds too good to be true and pops the red flag in your mind. Most of these supplements are made of Phaseolus Vulgaris, more commonly known as the Kidney Bean. This enzyme prevents carbohydrates from being absorbed by the body completely. We all know that each nutrient has a different function. Protein helps with muscle growth, whereas fat provides essential nutrients to cells in order to sustain them.

The carbs work as fuel to keep the body running but when the fuel is not needed, the Glycogen (Carbohydrates are converted to Glycogen) is converted to fat. These fat-blockers eliminate this last procedure and halt your body to accept unwanted carbs, hence draining them out of your body completely.

Now this doesn’t sound bad at all, does it? It all feels like everything will happen on its own and you won’t need to bother about any diet plan! This is too good to be true, right? Factually, we do not have enough evidence to prove that these supplements are totally worth it or not.

They haven’t been in use for long and as a result nothing substantial can be derived from their use. Also, most of these blockers have been animal tested and not much clinical testing has taken place to justify their use. So you might say that they work great on mice but humans; nothing conclusive can be established!

Carbohydrates are body’s most primary energy source and you shouldn’t jeopardize your health with something this serious. It is true that today, our daily carb intake is exceedingly higher than our required level of carbs but would just a pill help us? For the time being perhaps, this might help and let you put off some weight, but in the long run these pills can turn out to be as dangerous as some weight-gaining supplements.

Though fat blockers have their Pros and Cons, but no supplements can be better than what nature has to offer. So the best thing is to eat healthy. Do eat your favorite steak and that cheese sandwich you sometimes adore, but take enough exercise to take the excessive off. Eat a healthy balanced diet that is rich in plant based foods (i.e. Fruits and vegetables) and of course, meat is not totally off the table.

You can’t eat a pill before or after each meal for the rest of your life to keep the extra pounds away so, be practical, get back to the very basics and eat healthy while maintaining an active lifestyle.

L-Carnitine reviews often focus on both of these important aspects, and understanding the benefits of this potentially essential nutrient may significantly affect your health and fitness.

How Carnitine Works

Specific compounds include acetyl l-carnitine, and this is one of the compounds that helps your body turn fat into usable energy. Carnitine compounds are produced in the liver and kidneys, and most people maintain a sufficient amount of this compound in their brain, cardiac, and skeletal tissues simply by consuming milk, fish, poultry, and meat.

Accordingly, sufficient amounts help your body properly process the food you eat and turn it into energy. The L-carnitine weight loss claims stem from reports that supplements improve exercise performance, which ultimately leads to faster and more dramatic fat burning and weight loss.

How Supplements may help

Taking a daily supplemental dosage may help you lose weight in several ways, and the first benefit may be by way of an increased rate of body fat metabolism. This in turn may reduce feelings of fatigue and promote the production of lean muscle tissue. As a result of all of this, you will likely be able to exercise more intensely and for a longer length of time as well. While large scale studies would further explore these findings, studies from small clinical studies often support these results.

Safe Supplemental Amounts

The easiest way to safely get your required amount of carnitine is from the food you eat, as your body will likely absorb the compound faster from food. Oral supplements are absorbed more slowly, but there are recommended standards that have been set by a number of institutions. If your body does not produce enough of this compound, the recommended supplement doses are typically anywhere from five hundred to two thousand milligrams per day. For weight loss in particular, taking a daily supplement containing five hundred to one thousand milligrams is generally considered safe.

Additional Considerations

Although the body does not absorb carnitine anywhere nearly as quickly as when it is taken in supplemental form improved stamina, greater muscle mass, and reduced fat mass may make finding an appropriate dosage worthwhile. Fruits, vegetables, and grains contain very little carnitine, so you should concentrate on dairy products, poultry, fish, and meat if you are not interested in taking supplements. Ground beef, beef steak, and pork have relatively high amounts of carnitine per serving, as do chicken, cod, and servings of milk.

Some people report experiencing vomiting, nausea, or diarrhea as a result of taking supplements. Toxic effects, however, have not been reported in relation to taking carnitine. Consulting a medical professional may help you avoid such symptoms and get all that you can from taking this important amino acid compound.

Click Here for More Information and Reviews

However, if you have ever heard of a product called Svetol, you may be interested to know that the green coffee extract actually has scientific studies that shows it does in indeed aid in the weight loss process in a slightly different way than supplements that suppress the appetite or stimulate metabolism.

Rather, this product prevents the intestines from absorbing too much glucose so there is less sugar in the blood stream. This actually encourages the body to use the fat that has been stored so that it turns into energy.

In effect, the supplement not only helps you lose weight but also helps you reform your body and redefine your contours. Furthermore, it does not contain cafestol, caffeine and kahweol all of which can have undesirable side effects.

The fact burning effect of Svetol provides its slimming action as demonstrated in a double-blind study with 50 people. Over sixty days, the two groups of volunteers who all had a body mass index of more than 25 were observed to examine the effects of the placebo group and the group that received 400 mgs of the product each day. It was found that those who received the supplement lost nearly six percent of their initial weight while those who received the placebo lost almost three percent.

Maintaining a balanced diet is a key component to losing weight, but many people have trouble staying with a healthy diet, so they require a supplement to help control the diet. This particular supplement helps you use all the calories you consume so that they do not stick to you. This does not mean that you should not maintain a healthy diet, but you may be more likely to keep the weight off if you are not holding all the fat and calories.

Svetol can help you reach your goals if you know how to create and stay with a weight loss plan that is conducive to your age, gender, height and weight. It may especially be beneficial if you hope to redefine your body to create a new you. This decaffeinated green coffee extract just may be the answer you need if you have already had trouble losing a significant amount of weight and keeping it off.

Svetol 200 mg 60 Veg Caps by Swanson Best Weight-Control Formulas

Scientific References:

1) Daglia M, Racchi M, Papetti A, Lanni C, Govoni S,Gazzani G. In vitro and ex vivo antihydroxyl radical activity of green and roasted coffee. J Agric Food Chem.2004 Mar 24;52(6):1700-4.

2) Moreira DP, Monteiro MC, Ribeiro-Alves M, Donangelo CM, Trugo LC. Contribution of chlorogenic acids to the iron-reducing activity of coffee beverages. J Agric Food Chem. 2005 Mar 9;53(5):1399-402.

3) Kono Y, Kashine S,Yoneyama T, Sakamoto Y, Matsui Y, Shibata H. Iron chelation by chlorogenic acid as a natural antioxidant. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 1998 Jan;62(1):22-7.

4) Zang LY, Cosma G, Gardner H, Castranova V, Vallyathan V. Effect of chlorogenic acid on hydroxyl radical. Mol Cell Biochem. 2003 May;247(1-2):205-10.

5) Yamaji T, Mizoue T, Tabata S, Ogawa S, Yamaguchi K, Shimizu E, Mineshita M, Kono S. Coffee consumption and glucose tolerance status in middle-aged Japanese men.Diabetologia. 2004 Dec;47(12):2145-51. Epub 2004 Dec 15.

6) Johnston KL, Clifford MN, Morgan LM. Coffee acutely modifies gastrointestinal hormone secretion and glucose tolerance in humans: glycemic effects of chlorogenic acid and caffeine. Am J Clin Nutr. 2003 Oct;78(4):728-33.

Lipovox Review Superfood

or Superhype?

As stated on the Lipovox website:

“Lipovox Diet Pill is the new wonder product that promises significant weight loss with the added bonus of acne-free and wrinkle-free skin in a short period of time. Lipovox contains the “10 Superfoods” and super antioxidants extracts that will make you burn 400% more fat and vibrantly looking young.”

Sounds pretty good, right?

Before we buy into the Lipovox hype let’s take a step back and review how to look younger and lose weight.

What do we know about aging?

Aging is essentially a breakdown of our DNA by oxidizing agents known as free radicals. Once our DNA starts to break down our body is less effective at repairing it. That’s where antioxidants come in. Antioxidants help to block these free radicals and prevent the damage.

What do we know about weight loss?

I’ll keep it short since I have so many articles here about it. Suffice it to say there are no magic bullets but there are things that can help.

Lipovox review of ingredients:

Brazilian Acai: If you’ve read my other acai berry articles you know I’m not a big believer in its weight loss abilities. With that said acai berry does show promise in having strong antioxidant qualities.

Cayenne Pepper Fruit: Contains capsaicin which has an established record of anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and heart-healthy effects. Also high in antioxidant carotenes and flavonoids, and vitamin C. Cayenne has also been shown to increase your metabolic rate helping you to burn body fat at a much higher rate.

Garlic: Helps lower bad cholesterol lessening the risk of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), may aid in lowering blood pressure and the risk of blood clots. Also known for its antibacterial and antiviral properties.

Soybeans Isoflavones: Soybeans have been studied for decades for their numerous health benefits.

Barley: High fiber content which has numerous health and weight loss advantages but probably at to low of a concentration to really make a difference. Barley also contains high levels of Vitamin E which is an antioxidant.

Wheatgrass: Well known for its numerous vitamin and mineral concentrations.

Lactobacillus Acidophilus: Acidophilus is a healthy and necessary bacteria found in our gut that helps aid in digestion. It aids in keeping yeast from overtaking your GI tract.

Alfalfa Sprouts: Love or hate them they are very nutritious. Sprouts have a high enzyme content which has a positive effect on the body especially as we age and have more difficulty producing enzymes.

Flaxseed: High in omega 3 “essential” fatty acids and lignans (an antioxidant) which have been well studied for their positive effects on the body.

Buckwheat: Well known health effects. Helps aid in controlling spikes in blood sugar levels following meals.

Green Tea Extract: Numerous research articles about the positive effects as an antioxidant and an aid in weight loss.

Salmon Oil Powder: An enhanced form of fish oil. Contains omega 3 fatty acids which have numerous health benefits.

Alpha Lipoic Acid: ALA is a highly potent antioxidant that helps protect the mitochondria and the genetic material, DNA.

DMAE: Short term studies have shown an increase in alertness, with a positive influence on mood. Studies on animals actually showed an increase in their lifespan. It may not have a direct effect on weight loss but increased stress levels have been well documented as a cause of weight gain.

Lipovox Side Effects:

My only concern would be DMAE. The effects of taking large quantities of it are unknown at this time. I wouldn’t be concerned at these levels though unless you are taking large doses of it.

Lipovox Review Conclusion:

After reviewing Lipovox I have to say that their claims about making you look younger and aiding in weight loss are not as far fetched as I initially suspected. Nothing is going to stop you from aging but there are a lot of things that can slow it down and sometimes reverse some of the damage and Lipovox shows a lot of promise.

I am putting Lipovox on my list of recommended dietary supplements and would recommend you try it for yourself. If you do try it or have already, leave me your feedback in the comments section.

Lipovox Superfood Diet Pill Lipovox Diet Pill is the new wonder product that promises significant weight loss with the added bonus of acne-free and wrinkle-free skin in a short period of time. Lipovox contains the “10 Superfoods” and super antioxidants extracts that will make you burn 400% more fat and vibrantly looking young. The ingredients in Lipovox were carefully chosen because of their medically established relation with essential fatty acid benefits and antioxidant values on the human body. The Breakdown Benefits you can get from Lipovox : * Lipovox can assist in Preventing or reducing inflammation in the body * Lipovox can help regulate your metabolism and crank up you system to burn body fat * Lipovox can help Lower total cholesterol * Lipovox can help Lower blood pressure * Lipovox can help protect against heart disease * Lipovox can help to protect against cancer * Lipovox promotes healthy digestion * Lipovox also fights acne and wrinkles Ingredients: Lipovox contains extracts of these 10 …

Also Recommended:
Hydroxycut

Read the review here:
Hydroxycut Review

I was recently asked if herbal Hoodia affected fertility. In all honesty I had no idea so I decided to research Hoodia Gordonii to find out what the side effects are.

Before I go into the side effects of Hoodia let’s take a look and see why it has taken off as the new diet pill everyone wants.

Hoodia Gordonii:

Other Names: xhooba, ikhoba, Ghaap, South African desert cactus

Hoodia is a cactus like plant found in the semi-desert areas of South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, and Angola.

It has been used for thousands of years by natives in the Kalahari desert who relied on it to ward off hunger and thirst during long hunting trips.

Needless to say that once people around the world caught on to this it rapidly rose to ascension as a new weight loss supplement. So much so that it has garnered the attention of pharmaceutical companies who are currently studying the chemical compound p57 found in it for future diet pills.

Hoodia Gordonii Side Effects:

So does herbal hoodia affect fertility?

I haven’t been able to find a legitimate source saying it does which leads me to believe nobody knows. With that said what are some of the side effects of this new weight loss supplement?

So far the side effects are relatively unknown. A few researchers studying it for pharmaceutical purposes believe that it may negatively affect the liver. Considering that there haven’t been any long term studies on the side effects, I would suggest caution if you have any health problems.

With any diet pill I always recommend not taking it if you are pregnant or nursing, a child, or someone with liver, kidney, or heart disease.

Where to buy Hoodia Gordonii?

Scam Alert:

You need to be aware that there are many scams at the moment for herbal hoodia diet pills. You should only buy from trusted sources. A lot of companies claim to have Hoodia in it but the only type that works is Hoodia Gordonii.

If you would like to try Hoodia Gordonii I would recommend:

2000 MG Super Hoodia Time Release Hoodia diet pills, 2000mg per 2 cap. serving

Other Recommended Diet Pills

Hydroxycut Hardcore Pro Series

You can read my review here: Hydroxycut Review

Simple answer…No.

Every weight loss or health website I go to I see acai berry everywhere. Because of all this mass marketing going on, people are believing that it has some special power or something. It’s really making me sick to see all of these spammers trying to sell you the next greatest thing.

So what do we know about it?

Answer: Not much

Yes, I know it was on Oprah so it must be legit then…or is it?

Now normally I just ignore all the hyped up marketing campaigns for the new in thing but I have been asked so many times about the health benefits of acai berry and if it is legit. I decided to do a little research to see what I could find out about it.

Here are a few excerpts from the scientific literature.

“This study demonstrated that açai offers a rich source of bioactive polyphenolics and confirmed the importance of investigating whole food systems when evaluating the potential health benefits of individual phytochemical compounds.”

J. Agric. Food Chem., 2006, 54 (4), pp 1222–1229

“The fruit of Euterpe oleraceae, commonly known as acai, has been demonstrated to exhibit significantly high antioxidant capacity in vitro, especially for superoxide and peroxyl scavenging, and, therefore, may have possible health benefits.”

J. Agric. Food Chem., 2006, 54 (22), pp 8604–8610

“The ac¸ai berry is the fruit of the acai palm and is traditionally consumed in Brazil but has gained popularity abroad as a food and functional ingredient, yet little information exists on its health effect in humans.”

J. Agric. Food Chem., 2008, 56 (17), pp 7796–7802

At first glance you might think hey this is some great stuff. It’s been on Oprah and Rachel Ray and it even has scientific articles.

Do the health benefits of acai berry have potential…absolutely.

Problem is the hype doesn’t equal the research. I only found 4 articles when doing a search of scientific journals. The bottom line is there is very little research out there to support all the claims.

Bottom line is there is very little. It may have some really good antioxidant benefits but its not going to be some miracle weight loss cure. I couldn’t even find a research article on weight loss for it.

I’ll leave you with a quote from the head researcher Dr. Talcott.

“A lot of claims are being made, but most of them haven’t been tested scientifically,” Talcott said. “We are just beginning to understand the complexity of the acai berry and its health-promoting effects.”

Let me ask you this; do you want to lose weight quick?

Well there are no quick weight loss potions out there. If you want to burn fat, lose weight quick, and look good, you have to work at it.

You can lose weight quickly if you do it right.

Are you going to lose 10 pounds in 3 days?

No, but you can lose a couple of pounds a week and you can really start improving the way you look in a couple of weeks. Your body cannot burn that much fat in that short of time. All that you are losing is water and maybe muscle.

So what do you do?

Well, you can start by reading through the articles on this site.

If you follow the tips here, you will lose weight.

“Atro-Phex is one of the most powerful, innovative, and unique formulas ever introduced into the realm of weight management, energy, and performance enhancement.”

That is the claim made on their website. As with all diet pills and weight loss supplements the question is does it pass the test?

Let’s take a look at the ingredients and see.

• Phenylethylamine – A neurotransmitter in the brain, Phenethylamine is claimed to help increase the levels of dopamine. Dopamine is the feel good neurotransmitter and may have some correlation to overeating but research is still slim.

• Methylxanthine – Contains caffeine which is a proven diet pill ingredient.

• Green Tea – A proven weight loss ingredient, green tea has been shown to increase the metabolic rate, helping you to lose weight. Unfortunately, Atro-Phex doesn’t state how much Green Tea is in it to fully determine the effectiveness.

• L-Phenylalanine – Has been shown in clinical studies to aid in appetite suppression.

• Razberi Ketone – Found in raspberries hence the name and has been shown in certain studies to aid in weight loss.

• Advantra Z – Contains synephrine from bitter orange which at the right concentration is a high quality ingredient with fat burning properties. Unfortunately most companies that claim to use this ingredient don’t disclose the concentration of synephrine.

• Bioperine – Helps to increase the bioavailability of nutrients.

• Vinpocetine – Aids in increase blood flow to the brain and has not been shown to aid in weight loss.

• 7-Keto – Some studies show it is effective in weight loss, but at high dosages side effects such as heart palpitations were found.

Atro-Phex has a long list of ingredients but the ones highlighted above are the only ones of concern when it comes to weight loss. Don’t let long lists of ingredients fool you into believing that it must be better, this is a common marketing ploy.

Atro-Phex Review Conclusion:

Atro-Phex, like most diet pill companies, lists a few quality ingredients that have been proven to aid in weight loss and like most companies they neglect to tell you the amounts in their proprietary blend.

Bottom Line:

I am only tentatively recommending it because I don’t have a full breakdown of the concentrations of the ingredients. That’s not to say it won’t help you lose weight though.

Try Atro-Phex and let me know your results.

Diet pill claims are always debatable so let’s take a look at the ingredients and see if it passes the test.

• 7-Keto – Studies show it is effective in weight loss, but at high dosages side effects such as heart palpitations were found.

• Yerba mate and Guarana – Similar properties to caffeine which claims to help in thermogenesis (fat burning). Research is limited but both are commonly found ingredients in diet supplements.

• Citrus Aurantium – AKA Bitter Orange contains synephrine which at the right concentration is high quality diet pill ingredient with fat burning properties. Unfortunately most companies that claim to use this ingredient don’t disclose the concentration of synephrine.

• Green Tea – Numerous studies have shown Green Tea to be a proven ingredient that will increase your metabolic rate which will in turn increase the amount of calories you burn.

• Dandelion – Diuretic properties that cause you to excrete more water and salt lowering your water retention which in turn lowers body weight.

• Bioperine – Helps to increase the bioavailability of nutrients.

Lean System 7 (LS7) Review Conclusion:

I have my reservations about 7-keto DHEA due too the negative publicity it has received for anti-aging claims. With that said it does appear to have some promise as a diet supplement. Further studies need to be done.

With that said I am a big fan of products that contain Citrus Aurantium and Green Tea. Both have solid clinical studies to support them. My only concern is the lack of concentrations of each ingredient in LS7.

Bottom Line:

Until more studies are done we won’t really know how effective it is.  My suggestion is try Lean System 7 and test it for yourself.

If you have tried it leave me some feedback on it.